new material

Subject: new material
From: KT
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 12:06 AM

Hi all!

I'm in a "looking for new material" mode.... Meaningful, singable and preferably uplifting songs, along the lines of Bill Staines' "Faith of Man" or "Sweet Wyoming Home."

What are some of your favorites in the meaningful, singable and uplifting category? KT

Subject: RE: new material
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 12:30 AM

Oh, wow, KT, nothing like opening it up to a deluge! **BG** LOTS out there, darlin'!

One I just love is Keep on the Sunny Side. I'll be back with more ideas!

Nice to *see* you!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: new material
From: Big Mick
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 12:45 AM

You know I love your voice. I would love to hear you sing "Storms Are On The Ocean". In fact, I would love to sing it with you.

Mick

Subject: RE: new material
From: Gypsy
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 12:45 AM

How about "You fill the day"? Now THERE is a singable, uplifting tune!

Subject: RE: new material
From: Gypsy
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 12:47 AM

Me too! And how about "Give me the Roses"? too?

Subject: RE: new material
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 01:23 AM

Hi kat!! Nice to see ya!!

And you, too Mick!! (And thanks for those kind words)

"Keep On the Sunny Side" and "Storms Are On The Ocean" are both great suggestions. I have them both but never committed them to memory. Good ideas!

Gypsy, thanks for your suggestions, too. Is it "Give me the Roses" (while I live.....) That one?

I don't think I know "You Fill the Day." Can you recommend a good version of it?

KT

Subject: RE: new material
From: Cluin
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 02:06 AM

There's one I wrote, called "Feelin' Alright".

Subject: RE: new material
From: Amos
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 02:43 AM

Across the Great Divide, Nightrider's Lament, and Casseiopea come to mind.


A

Subject: RE: new material
From: KT
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 01:24 PM

Thanks, Amos! Across the Great Divide is wonderful, (especially if there is someone to do those lovely harmonies), and I will have to learn Nightrider's Lament.

Casseiopea I haven't found yet. Can you recommend a good rendition of it? Thanks much! KT

Subject: RE: new material
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 01:25 PM

Railroading on the Great Divide
Great Storm is Over

Subject: RE: new material
From: Amos
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 01:41 PM

KT:

I don't know where it comes from, but I know Jen Ellen has a copy of the source -- she could tell ya. I only know it because it wasd on a tape she sent, and I don't even know who sang it!

But I do know the lyrics:

Casseiopea

Nighthawks glide in the darkness
The city lights far from their flight
A cloud silhouette hangs far to the West;
Above us, the clear Spring sky.

Casseiopea, dance with Orion tonight
Casseiopea, with the silvery light in your eyes

Hardly a car on the highway
hardly a light on the road
Just the ruby shine of coyote eyes
And the midnight stars al aglow.

Casseiopea, dance with Orion tonight
Casseiopea, with the silvery light in your eyes

Somewhere East of Othello,
I saw her black velvet gown
Strewn with thousands of rhinestones
And the North Star there in her crown.

Casseiopea, dance with Orion tonight
Casseiopea, with the silvery light in your eyes

Orion is the Bold Hunter
A sword with three stars he does bear
He beckons the lady to come to his side
"Your Majesty rise from your chair"

Casseiopea, dance with Orion tonight
Casseiopea, with the silvery light in your eyes
Casseiopea, dance with Orion tonight
Casseiopea, with the silvery light in your eyes

Casseiopea, you'll be dancing tonight


A

Subject: RE: new material
From: GUEST,celtaddict
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 01:55 PM

You surely know Staines' "Bridges" in that line.
How about:
Franke's "Thanksgiving Eve"
Dylan's "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" (the only Dylan song that I think should be sung by people who do not sing Dylan)
Anything by Bob Coltman, Jan Harmon, Kate Wolf.
Campbell's "Restless Waters"

Subject: RE: new material
From: GUEST,celtaddict
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 02:21 PM

Fielding's "Handful of Song"
Kallet's "Working on Wings to Fly"
Kaplan's "Meadowlark Waltz"
Goulder's "Sandwood to Kyle"
Quinn's "She's Still in Paris"
Benet/Heath "Melora's Song"
Dodson's "The Good in Living"
Nardin's "Big Cocked Hat"
Gold(?)(It is an Australian Judy, either Gold or Small) "Ella Whelan"
MacDonalds' "Eirinn"
Forget who wrote "Dancing at Whitsun"
forgot-the-name admiral's wife and Zentz "Companioned by the Sea"

Subject: RE: new material
From: Amos
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 02:54 PM

Handful of Songs was written by Jerry Rasmussen.

A

Subject: RE: new material
From: GUEST,celtaddict
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 03:24 PM

Thank you, Amos; didn't think to check as I associate it so with Rick's recording. My memory is obviously spotty, but at least sometimes I know I don't know!

Subject: RE: new material
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 06:26 PM

celtaddict, I love Kate Wolf, but I'd hardly call her songs *uplifting*; in the *right* mood her songs could induce suicide!:-)

A couple of others...old cowboy type songs, KT:

Desert Silvery Blue, Been Ridin' and, Railroad Corral. If you aren't familiar with them, let me know and I can send a midi.:-)

Oh! And, don't forget the one I loved to hear IvanB. sing in HearMe: Aunt Clara!! It's SO much fun to sing, you can really camp it up!

Also, Craig Johnson's North Country Tragedy which Art Thieme has on his CD. I used to sing it in HearMe. It can be really campy, too.

Subject: RE: new material
From: GUEST,celtaddict
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 08:04 PM

Katlaughing, I should have said "several songs by" (or listed) rather than "anything by" as I do not have anything approaching a complete collection of her work. Perhaps my friends just have very good taste in which of her truly uplifting songs they choose to sing.
I know people who think Gordon Bok is depressing too, though I personally would listen to his grey-suede voice read a phone book; but among others his songs "Turning Toward the Morning" and "Hay Ledge Song" ("If I could give you three things, I would give you these: song, and laughter, and a wooden boat, on the shining seas...") surely qualify as upward looking.
Allister MacGillivray's "Song for the Mira" and "Here's to Time"
KT, do you always perform solo?
And, two of my favorite sources of "new" material: taking a song previously sung by a man (or the reverse, of course, for my male singer friends), and going back to ones we all knew many many years ago, so standard that no one has actually sung them in years. A friend recently started singing, "Home on the Range," and, do you know, it is a beautiful song.

Subject: RE: new material
From: GUEST,DQF
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 08:09 PM

I am dead serious here, I think it is high time people start singing in traditional style the only Garcia song that will be sung as traditional in another century, "Ripple." Do not think "Deadhead," please, but it is a highly singable melody and words somewhere between old-time gospel and poetic mysticism.

Subject: RE: new material
From: GUEST,DQF
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 08:12 PM

The other contemporary "pop" song that I think should go "trad," though maybe it is too early for it, is "The Rose." A song in which every note is the only note that could go there, and the lyric as pared and elegant as any river stone.

Subject: RE: new material
From: Ely
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 08:18 PM

If you don't already know it--"Rolling Hills of the Border". Also, my dad thinks everyone should know "Rolling Home", and my mom votes for "Darcy Farrow" and the "Jute Mill Song".

Subject: RE: new material
From: KT
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 11:39 PM

Wow! Thanks, everyone for all of the great suggestions! Ihave some homework tracking them all down! Kat

Desert Silvery Blue, Been Ridin' and, Railroad Corral , North Country Tragedy, Aunt Clara are all new ones to me, kat, and I would love for you to send me a midi, but my midis aren't playing right now. I have sound, but it's out of sync. SO much so, that I can't make out the tune. My quicktime is out of whack I guess, and I haven't yet figured out how to fix it.

Amos, thanks for those words. they're beautiful. I'll contact Jenellen for the tune.

celtaddict, thanks to you too. Most of yours are new to me, but I do love Thanksgiving Eve. You're right about Home On the Range. There are two other lovely verses, in addition to the most commonly known one. In answer to your question, yes, I usually do perform solo, but I love singing with folks. (especially ones who love harmony!!)

DQF, the Rose is lovely, and is so often requested. I love what you said..."the lyric as pared and elegant as any river stone. " Talk about poetic! I will have to have another look at Ripple, though I do know that lots of folks enjoy that one.

Ely, thanks too for your suggestions. I don't know them and will look them up.

Thanks, everyone! You've all given me lots to do!! Now to find them all!! KT

Subject: RE: new material
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Apr 03 - 12:04 AM

KT, I'll send you a tape, darlin'.**bg**

Subject: RE: new material
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Apr 03 - 01:53 AM

I have heard KT sing and she has a lovely voice. A real crowd pleaser, she's also one of the few singers I know who takes requests from the audience.

Subject: RE: new material
From: mutineer
Date: 20 Apr 03 - 03:58 AM

Check out 'Galway Girl' by Steve Earle...

Subject: RE: new material
From: Cluin
Date: 20 Apr 03 - 11:54 PM

Kent Lewis' "Song of Wyoming" (which I learned from a John Denver recording)

Subject: RE: new material
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 20 Apr 03 - 11:59 PM

I was about to suggest (and will now second instead) Galway Girl by Steve Earle...

Might not be new, but it's new to my show... and it goes over like GANGBUSTERS!

As does Beer Run by Todd Snider

Subject: RE: new material
From: Celtaddict
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 09:23 AM

KT, I was hoping most would be new. That was the aim of the question and response. I am heading to a professional meeting then a daughter's wedding, but will make you a tape/CD and type up words when I get back. They are every one of them songs I would like to hear sung more. Just PM me where to send it!
He does sing all the verses of "Home." Lovely.
Do you know "Up a Winding River"? The story makes it sound a man's tale, but it lends itself wonderfully to ornamentation, as does "Be Thou My Vision" which needs to replace a percentage of the times "Amazing Grace" is requested.
I happen to have recordings (not necessarily mainstream but ones I like) of Ely's suggestions too and can pass them on. Only "Rose" I have recorded is Bette Midler's but have heard it treated traditionally. I don't know if anyone other than the Dead have ever recorded "Ripple" but one friend sings it straight and it is lovely, and another (a shantyman) sings it in a real oldtime gospel/blues and WOW.

Subject: RE: new material
From: fsharpdim7
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 11:15 AM

How about "Sweet Song from Yesterday?" Great for group singing.
Chris

Subject: RE: new material
From: Cluin
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 10:39 PM

Peter Rowan's "Thirsty in the Rain".

Subject: RE: new material
From: KT
Date: 23 Apr 03 - 02:07 AM

Ebbie, thank you. You are very kind.

Thanks, again, everyone, for all of these wonderful suggestions!!   And, my midi player is working again (YAHOO!), so it'll be easier to track some of these down. I'm looking forward to learning lots of new tunes! All the best to all of you!   KT

Subject: RE: new material
From: Celtaddict
Date: 26 May 03 - 08:56 PM

So, KT, I have surfaced; still want a recording/words, or are you currently inundated? Send a PM if you want some of the unknown-to-you ones sent.

Subject: RE: new material
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:03 AM

Get or borrow the Bear Family's Carter Family box. That should keep you busy for a few lifetimes.